Current Affairs 2019

Supreme Court judge A.K. Sikri, who voted with the government in the three-member committee to remove CBI Director Alok Verma, is understood to have been nominated to the post of President/Member of the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal (CSAT). In fulfilment of its obligations under the Agreed Memorandum, the UK government passed the Commonwealth Secretariat Act 1966 which, among other things, gives the Commonwealth Secretariat legal personality and accords it certain immunities and privileges.

Mary Kom is World No. 1 [11 Jan 2019]

M.C. Mary Kom’s unprecedented sixth World title last November has propelled her to the top position in the AIBA latest World rankings. In the latest rankings put out by AIBA, Mary Kom is placed top of the chart in the 48kg weight division with 1700 points. The 36-year-old will have to move to 51kg in pursuit of her 2020 Olympic dream as 48kg is not yet included in the Games roster. Other Indians’ rankings: Pinki Jangra (8th, 51kg); Manisha Maun (8th, 54kg); Sonia Lather (2nd, 57kg); Simranjit Kaur (4th, 64kg); L Sarita Devi (16th, 64kg); Lovlina Borgohain (5th, 69kg) .

The Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill 2019 to provide 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to the economically weaker sections in the general category.

Ramnath Goenka awards 2019 [10 Jan 2019]

IT was the spirit of democracy, transparency and courage that dominated the award ceremony of the13th Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in New Delhi, last week. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who was the chief guest, gave away the prizes to 29 winners across 18 categories from print and broadcast journalism.

The Lok Sabha passed a Bill allowing 10% quota in employment and education for the general category candidates who belong to the economically weaker sections. The Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019, introduced by Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot, was cleared by majority of the members (319) voting for it, and four against.

Vikram Misri takes charge as India’s new envoy to China [08 Jan 2019]

India’s new ambassador to China Vikram Misri took charge of the post and met top Chinese officials during which they discussed Sino-India ties. A 1989-batch India Foreign Service (IFS) officer, Mr. Misri (54), replaced Gautam Bambawale who retired in November last year. Mr. Misri has taken the charge of the country’s envoy at a time when India and China are trying to deepen their cooperation in various areas, leaving behind 2017 Doklam standoff which was the most serious military face-off in decades. Before his appointment as India’s ambassador to China, Mr. Misri served as Indian envoy in Myanmar.

India scores maiden Test series win in Australia [07 Jan 2019]

India scripted history winning the first ever series on Australian soil beating the home team 2-1 after the fourth and final Test ended in a tame draw due to inclement weather.

Malaysia's king Sultan Muhammad V steps down [06 Jan 2019]

In a historic first for the country that ended weeks of speculation about his future after he took medical leave. Sultan Muhammad V's decision marks the first time a king has abdicated in the Muslim-majority country since it gained independence from Britain in 1957. It came after the king took leave at the start of November for two months, during which time unconfirmed reports circulated that he had married a Russian former beauty queen. A statement from the national palace confirmed the resignation of the relatively youthful monarch, known for his fondness for four-wheel driving and other extreme sports.

Drug Prices Control Order (DPCO) amendment [06 Jan 2019]

Recent amendments to the Drug Prices Control Order (DPCO), 2013, have fuelled concerns that the authorities might find it difficult to keep the prices of essential medical devices in check as multinational firms would now be able to use patent protection to exempt such equipment from price control for five years. According to a government notification, new drugs patented under the Indian Patent Act will be exempted from price control for five years from the date of the commencement of their commercial marketing by the manufacturer in the country.

Mallya became the first businessman declared as FEO [06 Jan 2019]

Mallya became the first businessman declared as FEO under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, which came into existence in August 2018.

Arunima Sinha, the Indian mountaineer who became the world’s first woman amputee to climb Mount Everest in 2013, has now become the first woman amputee to climb Mount Vinson (highest peak of Antarctica).

Eminent witer Manoj Das honoured [03 Jan 2019]

Eminent English and Odia writer Manoj Das received the Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja National Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature, instituted by the Berhampur University. During the 53rd foundation day ceremony.

Praveen Kumar takes oath as Andhra HC acting CJ [03 Jan 2019]

Justice Chagari Praveen Kumar, senior-most Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, took charge as acting Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court. The court had been established consequent to the bifurcation of the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad.

The Reserve Bank of India set up an expert committee under former Sebi chairman U K Sinha to suggest long-term solutions for the economic and financial sustainability of the MSME sector. The RBI has announced the panel a day after it allowed a one-time restructuring of existing debt up to Rs 25 crore for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which have defaulted on payment but the loans given to them have continued to be classified as standard assets. The eight-member committee will also examine the factors affecting the timely and adequate availability of finance to the sector, the RBI said in a statement.

HDFC MF regains top spot in mutual fund industry [03 Jan 2019]

HDFC mutual fund has regained its number 1 spot in the Indian mutual fund industry by racing ahead of ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. For the quarter ending December 2018, HDFC AMCs average assets under management stood at Rs 3.35 lakh crore, ahead of ICICI Prudential Mutual Rs 3.08 lakh crore. Over the last one year, HDFC MFs assets under management have grown 16% from Rs 2.89 lakh crore.

Thottathil B Radhakrishnan took over as the first Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, which came into existence on the first day of 2019. Mr. Radhakrishnan was administered the oath of office by Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana E S L Narasimhan at the Raj Bhavan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced renaming of three islands of Andaman and Nicobar archipelago as a tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, the Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep and the Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the hoisting of the Tricolour by Bose.

Late Pakistan lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir has been awarded the UN Human Rights Prize for 2018. Her daughter Munizae Jahangir received the prestigious award on behalf of her mother. Jahangir was announced as one of the four winners of the quinquennial prize in October. Other winners included women’s rights activist in Tanzania, Rebeca Gyumi; activist for the rights of indigenous Brazilian communities Joenia Wapichana and Ireland’s human rights organisation Front Line Defenders.

The Philippines’ Catriona Gray was named Miss Universe 2018 in a competition concluding in Bangkok. The 24-year-old Ms. Gray wore a sparkling red dress she said is inspired by a volcano in the Philippines as she was handed the crown to the delight of a roaring crowd that generally favoured Southeast Asian contestants.

Kamal Nath sworn in as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister [17 Dec 2018]

Congress leader Kamal Nath was sworn in as the 18th Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in Bhopal. Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath of office to him. Mr. Nath, who has held several portfolios in the Union Cabinet, was appointed the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee president on April 26 and was at the forefront in steering the party to a win in the November 28 Assembly polls.

PV Sindhu scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win a World series final title [16 Dec 2018]

PV Sindhu scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win a World series final title. The Indian shuttler was at her best in a real humdinger of a contest against Japanese Nozomi Okuhara as she walked away with the match 21-19, 21-17.

Zoramthanga sworn in as Mizoram chief minister [15 Dec 2018]

Mizo National Front (MNF) leader Zoramthanga was in as Mizoram’s new chief minister. The 74-year-old rebel-turned-politician was a former underground leader and a close aide of the legendary MNF leader Laldenga. A former Chief Minister, Zoramthanga, 74, was elected for a fifth term from Aizawl East-I seat, defeating Independent candidate K. Sapdanga by a margin of 2,504 votes.

BP Singh is appointed as FTII chairman [14 Dec 2018]

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting appointed TV producer BP Singh as President of FTII and chairman of its Governing Council. Singh will step in the shoes of actor Anupam Kher, who had resigned in October.

Mohamed Salah named BBC African Footballer of the Year 2018 [14 Dec 2018]

Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been voted BBC African Footballer of the Year for the second time in a row.

DLF CEO Rajeev Talwar appointed WTTCII chairman [11 Dec 2018]

World Travel & Tourism Council, India Initiative (WTTCII) has appointedDLF' CEO Rajeev Talwar, as Chairman of WTTCII for the year 2019. Talwar is also the chairman of NAREDCO and president of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Government appoints Shaktikanta Das as new RBI Governor [11 Dec 2018]

Shaktikanta Das, member of the 15th Finance Commission and former Economic Affairs Secretary, will take over as the new Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor.

Ex-SBI chief is SWIFT India chairman [10 Dec 2018]

SWIFT India has appointed ex-SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya as the new chairman of its board. SWIFT India is a joint venture of top Indian public and private sector banks and SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication).

The government appointed Krishnamurthy Subramanian as the Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) to the finance minister for a period of three years. The main role of a CEA is to advise the government on key economic issues. Besides, the adviser and its team comes out with an annual Economic Survey ahead of Union Budget. Subramanian, who is currently the associate professor of finance (with tenure) and executive director for the Centre for Analytical Finance at country's premier business-school Indian School of Business.

Sancharam wins Sahitya Akademi Award [06 Dec 2018]

Tamil writer, traveller, essayist and scriptwriter S. Ramakrishnan has won the Sahitya Akademi Award for 2018 for his novel Sancharam, which poignantly captures the lives of nagaswaram players in karisal bhoomi – the arid land – of Tamil Nadu.

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah created history as he broke an 82-year-old record during the third Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi on the fourth day. Picking his fifth wicket in the match, dismissing William Somerville for 4, Shah completed his 200-wicket milestone in the longest format, becoming the fastest bowler to do so. The right-armer broke pre-World War record set by Australian Clarrie Grimmett in 1936 by requiring only 33 Tests to reach the landmark. Grimmett, on the other hand, had reached the figures in his 36th Test.

Print media are lightweight, portable, disposable publications printed on paper and circulated as physical copies in forms we call books, newspapers, magazines and newsletters. They hold informative and entertaining content that is of general or special interest. They are published either once or da →

History of United Nation The name "United Nations", coined by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt was first used in the Declaration by United Nations of 1 January 1942. In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organiza →

In 2009, an unknown programmer by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto put forward a whitepaper that proposed a creation of new form of digital currency - cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency functions the same way as regular currencies do in that its used as a means of exchange, unit of account and a store of va →

Headquarter: New Delhi Function of the Organization: The Medical Council of India was established in 1934 under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1933, now repealed, with the main function of establishing uniform standards of higher qualifications in medicine and recognition of medical qualifications →

Contribute to our Site

If you contribute your content to our site. Please mail us your content to editor@onlinegk.com